The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1887-04-01

CAPTAIN GENERAL, WIFE AND DAUGHTER.
Upon low hill a mile from the edge of the
city is situated the captain generals house We
saw the groves Of great palm trees about it long
before our carriages reached the wide driveway
and passing the soldiers at The entrance of this
we drove through shaded avenue up to large
succeed building that would not seem strange if
it were transported to the suburbs Of Paris or
Nice. At the gate to the grounds within
formed officer stopped us and some parley
ensued before we were admitted. 1t seemed
afterward that our carriages We're not up to
the mark, and it was one of the rules of the pal
ace that only private carriages should enter the
grounds A few words from Gen. Williams passed
us onward, however, and moment later we all
stood in the great salon Of the house. Here while
the senators were holding private audience with
the captain general took look about me.
Though hot without it was here as cool as Claude
Melnotte's ideal palace, through which blew the
balmy breezes of the Lake of Como. The floor
was of marble, and the walls were SO open that
the air had as free movement as though out of
doors. The roof upholstered and the big
rafters were painted. Around the big salon
divans, covered with linen and marked sc. G.''
were seated, and here and there about the room
rocking chairs were grouped together. Tropical
flowers grew in pots along the walls, and through
an open door-all the doors are open in & Cuban
house-I saw another parlor, with great pyra-
mid of tropical plants in its center. At the side
of this was the dining room, also open, and the
whole seemed more of a great, cool, peaean
play house for sunny weather than the abode Of
the best family in Cuba.
**x
After a few moments waiting the senators ap-
peared, accompanied by the captain general. The
reception was entirely informal, and his excellency
had no badge of office except red sash, which
was wound round his waist under his coat and
fastened at the center facing us with rosette of
gold The captain general is named Emellio Cal
lejas. He is of about so years of age, slight
in build and inclined to STOPPING He does not
weigh over 1875 pounds and he wore q busi-
ness suit of black diagonal which would not be
out of place in the Stock Exchange at Wall street
He has dark, full bearded pleasant face, with
the curly, brownish black whiskers well trimmed,
bright, black eye, and the manner of a cultured
gentleman. He was introduced to the members
of the party and shook hands with all. Then he
brought in his daughter, a typical Spanish girl,
and one of the most beautiful women have ever
seen She was about 20 years of age, had rich,
fair complexion, and her every motion was grace.
She was quite accomplished and spoke French
huently and English fairly well. Mrs. Gen. McCook,
one of the French scholars of the party carried on
quite conversation with her, and shortly after
this the young lady brought in her baby, little
coffee colored tot of five months whose bright
black eyes looked soberly from one senator to
another, and finally seemed most pleased with
Senator Palmer Palmer took it from its mother
during the visit and jumped it up and down with
all the skill of a grandmother nurse. The baby
laughed at him, and it did not cry during our
whole visit. 1t was rather smart baby of its
age, and the ladies remarked that it was wearing
/ short clothes at five months-rather sooner than
among the Americans. Its feet were dressed in
littewhie kid shoes of the finest glove texture and
out of the tops of these, showing against its fat
olive brown little legs, peeped silk stockings of
pale blue The short dress was of white cambric,
I and the mother herself wore a lawn such as any
American girl would think fit for every day work
ing wear. The grandfather, the captain general
was evidently highly pleased with the attention
it received, and he is doubt not, as doting as
most grandfathers. ***
Before having refreshments the part were in
/ vited to stroll through the grounds. and we all
went out and walked under the great royal palms
which, with great gray trunks as round and
smooth as though turned with lathe, extended as
high as church steeple above us, before branch
ing out into an umbrella of big green leaves. We
saw flowers whose like we had never seen BEFORE
and the whole was the ideal tropical garden which
you read about and which your imagination
fails to realize until it seems before your eyes
The stables were visited and the governor general
bad two magnificent Spanish Arabian gray horses
brought out and put through their PAGES to the
delight Of Senator Palmer, who is perhaps, the
greatest lover of horses in the party.
s{s a*m
Then we went into the dining room and had
lunch from china dishes on which the crown royal
of Spain was painted. While eating. the captain
general did not sit down, but stood on the oppo-
| site side of the table from Senator Sherman and
ychatted. The baby and its mother were at the
table, and here Senator Palmer again handled the
baby in such a way as made the other senator's
eyes green with envy. Then the wine was poured
out, and the captain general raising glass of
champagne, made happy toast TO the friendly
relations of the two countries which were repre-
sented at the table and to the guests whom
he. said he was happy to entertain This was